Tester's opposition not courageous

Fellow liberal Democrats have lauded Senator Jon Tester as being “courageous” for voting against the confirmation of the eminently qualified Neil Gorsuch for US Supreme Court justice. Is parroting the rhetoric and reasons of liberal New York Senator Chuck Schumer courageous? It is just like 2010, when Tester obeyed former Senator Harry Reid and cast a deciding vote for Obamacare without reading the bill. His “reward” then was $16 million to hire a Colorado firm to build a totally unneeded border crossing building at Whitetail, MT. Fortunately, the Canadians closed their side before this money was wasted. In January, Tester facetiously showed up at Ryan Zinke’s confirmation hearing, then, again following orders from Chuck Schumer, Jon helped the Democrats mount an unprecedented display of delaying and obstructing all of the president’s appointments, causing problems in the transition of government. Is this what he calls “Montana values?”

We deserve a senator who will put the interests of all Montanans above narrow partisan behavior. Perhaps Tester should introduce legislation to limit congressional terms and eliminate their obscene retirement benefits. That, we could all agree, would be courageous.

– Philip L. Barney.

Polson